I am trying to figure out how that would work as a one off or campaign. Things like mechanics and rules some bumps in the road. I'm inspired by other TTRPG like Godbound, D&D Immortals etc.
So the the premise can be one of two ways I can think of:
1) the gods have all been destroyed in a Ragnarok type of event with the forces of evil. Although evil has won, it's forces are decimated. Most Demon princes and Arch Devils are so wounded it will take centuries or even many millenia for them to heal. In order for them to gain back their powers and heal, they have sent some of what's left of their forces to the Prime to corrupt mortals and consign their souls to damnation. In fact, since there are no gods, those who worshipped gods can no longer ascend. Once they die, their soul simply lies in state, mindless as if in a coma. This makes them easy victims to snatch down to the underworlds.
Unbeknownst to any, when the gods were destroyed, what was left of their essence flowed down to the Prime and melded with the souls of some mortals. There was no rhyme or reason to whom it flowed. It could be a noble or a peasant. In this multiverse these demigods number less than a handful, and includes the PC's and maybe a few NPC's scattered across the Plain or even in the Heavens. The demigods don't give off any special aura of which any spell or a power can distinguish them from a normal human. In fact, at the higher levels, powerful creatures may not consider them more than mortal adventures before they become the victim of the PC wrathful smites.
From here it is basically a sandbox. PC's can determine what they want to do with the power they have gained. Because they have no alignments, they can act in any manner they choose and only Fate can determine the repercussions if any. They can perform godly deeds to attract followers. Have temples built in their honor. Save souls from being dragged down to the underworld. Go to any of the heavenly abodes and carve a piece out for their own followers who died. Rescue damned souls from the underworld.
2) This scenario is slightly similar to the origin above. The gods do exist, however because the forces of evil were planning an attack, the Gods sent an army of gods and godlike beings to intercept. Unfortunately the clash happened upon the Prime and caused an apocalyptic event on the PC's homeworld, destroying realms and great kingdoms. Centuries later as the world recovered, life is harder for humans. The Gods powers have waned and direct intervention in the Prime is costly and requires long periods of rest to recover. This is not true for the underworld fiends and devils, who have spread plague and curses on the humans. The undead is a frequent problem. Funeral rites done incorrectly can cause the body animate and attack all in the area.
Much like the above, the essence of the god and godlike beings fell to earth to mend with the souls of just a few mortals, turning them into something more. In this world, the Greater Gods are not all powerful and can be killed. They are not defended by armies of creatures anymore. However, they do have defenders and Lieutenants, making any attempt to get to them near improbable, but not impossible. Much like the sandbox, the PC's determine what is they want to do. While the same rules apply that they appear as normal humans, even to magical scrying, they should know that as they level up their actions will draw attention from the Gods. PC's may also ascend to the heavens and attempt to carve out whatever realm is there for their followers after death.
They may do by asking permission of the current God/gods who rule there or they may take it and see if the god will challenge them. Again. The gods no longer have a vast army to send after you, so most likely they will seek an audience with you to determine what you are and how you can serve their interests. It would be up to the PC to decide if they want the terms or will fight for their own piece of the realm.
In any case once the PC's level, they may get the attention of one or more of the gods. Not knowing your true nature, they may assume you merely a gifted mortal that they can use for whatever cosmic schemes they have planned. Again the PC's can accept and then get treated as servitor to the God or they may refuse and become part of his bad list.
Although for both scenarios, at the highest levels, PC are clearly very powerful, the way I see it, but probably cannot defeat a Greater god by himself. A group of PC's maybe able to do so, even on his home realm. It should be noted, that if the PC's already carved out part their realm from the god's realm, they too get the benefits (if any) of a power in his own realm.
I was wanting 10th level to be the max, although there may still be things you can benefit from by continuing to adventure. I feel the character class should only be Human, just human and nothing but human. As far as character classes. I am wondering if they should be able to use all of the classes, but the spells and special abilities should be based on some kind of Point System to prevent spamming and limit pyramiding? The demigod would seem weak at first level, but shows clear power progression as they get higher in level.
Although for both scenarios, at the highest levels, PC are clearly very powerful, the way I see it, but probably cannot defeat a Greater god by himself. A group of PC's maybe able to do so, even on his home realm. It should be noted, that if the PC's already carved out part their realm from the god's realm, they too get the benefits (if any) of a power in his own realm.
I was wanting 10th level to be the max, although there may still be things you can benefit from by continuing to adventure. I feel the character class should only be Human, just human and nothing but human. As far as character classes. I am wondering if they should be able to use all of the classes, but the spells and special abilities should be based on some kind of Point System to prevent spamming and limit pyramiding? The demigod would seem weak at first level, but shows clear power progression as they get higher in level.
Well that's all I've got.
I think based on the way you're describing it, 10 should be the minimum. if you really want them to be in any way comparable to gods or demigods, 10 or higher, that way they still have room to grow, but feel significantly powerful. Other than that, looks good. I will say, don't try to make it too much of a sandbox. While players certainly don't like being railroaded, I find that they also don't like to have no input or objective as set by the DM at all. You don't have to give them much, just tidbits and trails to follow, but you definitely need to have a main story thread. No matter how interesting your world is, they will get bored if they have nothing to do with it. So, give them more than just general goals. You mentioned being able to get temples built to them. Maybe they need to go save villages or gain followers and priesthoods to do that. If that's a side quest you want to include, go for it. But make sure they have paths to follow and clear ways to get on them.
You might check out Mythic Odyssey of Theros. It’s Wizards stab at Greek mythology world, and has lots of ideas about more divine PCs. Not gods so much as heroes/demigods, but there might be some ideas to steal.
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I am trying to figure out how that would work as a one off or campaign. Things like mechanics and rules some bumps in the road. I'm inspired by other TTRPG like Godbound, D&D Immortals etc.
So the the premise can be one of two ways I can think of:
1) the gods have all been destroyed in a Ragnarok type of event with the forces of evil. Although evil has won, it's forces are decimated. Most Demon princes and Arch Devils are so wounded it will take centuries or even many millenia for them to heal. In order for them to gain back their powers and heal, they have sent some of what's left of their forces to the Prime to corrupt mortals and consign their souls to damnation. In fact, since there are no gods, those who worshipped gods can no longer ascend. Once they die, their soul simply lies in state, mindless as if in a coma. This makes them easy victims to snatch down to the underworlds.
Unbeknownst to any, when the gods were destroyed, what was left of their essence flowed down to the Prime and melded with the souls of some mortals. There was no rhyme or reason to whom it flowed. It could be a noble or a peasant. In this multiverse these demigods number less than a handful, and includes the PC's and maybe a few NPC's scattered across the Plain or even in the Heavens. The demigods don't give off any special aura of which any spell or a power can distinguish them from a normal human. In fact, at the higher levels, powerful creatures may not consider them more than mortal adventures before they become the victim of the PC wrathful smites.
From here it is basically a sandbox. PC's can determine what they want to do with the power they have gained. Because they have no alignments, they can act in any manner they choose and only Fate can determine the repercussions if any. They can perform godly deeds to attract followers. Have temples built in their honor. Save souls from being dragged down to the underworld. Go to any of the heavenly abodes and carve a piece out for their own followers who died. Rescue damned souls from the underworld.
2) This scenario is slightly similar to the origin above. The gods do exist, however because the forces of evil were planning an attack, the Gods sent an army of gods and godlike beings to intercept. Unfortunately the clash happened upon the Prime and caused an apocalyptic event on the PC's homeworld, destroying realms and great kingdoms. Centuries later as the world recovered, life is harder for humans. The Gods powers have waned and direct intervention in the Prime is costly and requires long periods of rest to recover. This is not true for the underworld fiends and devils, who have spread plague and curses on the humans. The undead is a frequent problem. Funeral rites done incorrectly can cause the body animate and attack all in the area.
Much like the above, the essence of the god and godlike beings fell to earth to mend with the souls of just a few mortals, turning them into something more. In this world, the Greater Gods are not all powerful and can be killed. They are not defended by armies of creatures anymore. However, they do have defenders and Lieutenants, making any attempt to get to them near improbable, but not impossible. Much like the sandbox, the PC's determine what is they want to do. While the same rules apply that they appear as normal humans, even to magical scrying, they should know that as they level up their actions will draw attention from the Gods. PC's may also ascend to the heavens and attempt to carve out whatever realm is there for their followers after death.
They may do by asking permission of the current God/gods who rule there or they may take it and see if the god will challenge them. Again. The gods no longer have a vast army to send after you, so most likely they will seek an audience with you to determine what you are and how you can serve their interests. It would be up to the PC to decide if they want the terms or will fight for their own piece of the realm.
In any case once the PC's level, they may get the attention of one or more of the gods. Not knowing your true nature, they may assume you merely a gifted mortal that they can use for whatever cosmic schemes they have planned. Again the PC's can accept and then get treated as servitor to the God or they may refuse and become part of his bad list.
Although for both scenarios, at the highest levels, PC are clearly very powerful, the way I see it, but probably cannot defeat a Greater god by himself. A group of PC's maybe able to do so, even on his home realm. It should be noted, that if the PC's already carved out part their realm from the god's realm, they too get the benefits (if any) of a power in his own realm.
I was wanting 10th level to be the max, although there may still be things you can benefit from by continuing to adventure. I feel the character class should only be Human, just human and nothing but human. As far as character classes. I am wondering if they should be able to use all of the classes, but the spells and special abilities should be based on some kind of Point System to prevent spamming and limit pyramiding? The demigod would seem weak at first level, but shows clear power progression as they get higher in level.
Well that's all I've got.
I think based on the way you're describing it, 10 should be the minimum. if you really want them to be in any way comparable to gods or demigods, 10 or higher, that way they still have room to grow, but feel significantly powerful. Other than that, looks good. I will say, don't try to make it too much of a sandbox. While players certainly don't like being railroaded, I find that they also don't like to have no input or objective as set by the DM at all. You don't have to give them much, just tidbits and trails to follow, but you definitely need to have a main story thread. No matter how interesting your world is, they will get bored if they have nothing to do with it. So, give them more than just general goals. You mentioned being able to get temples built to them. Maybe they need to go save villages or gain followers and priesthoods to do that. If that's a side quest you want to include, go for it. But make sure they have paths to follow and clear ways to get on them.
Updog
You might check out Mythic Odyssey of Theros. It’s Wizards stab at Greek mythology world, and has lots of ideas about more divine PCs. Not gods so much as heroes/demigods, but there might be some ideas to steal.